Did not see anything against the terms of use, so I was hoping to create a post to track my progress and provide updates on what I have done.
As a bit of an introduction, I am working to remove some pesky inaccuracies from my credit reports. As of right now, I have an EF of 688, a TU of 657, and an EX of 625. Myself and my wife have pre-approval and have completed initial underwriting for a house that is due to begin construction next week. There are some lingering issues that I am working to clear up on my credit prior to closing, sometime early next year.
I already had disputed a CitiBank Sears Mastercard with TU that was showing no activity since 05/2006. I am guessing that because of the DOFD, TU had put a notation on that it was to be removed in 12/2010. It had not been, so I called them on it, and it was promptly deleted. It still is also on my EF, but not on my EX. A dispute is in progress with EX to have it removed that I began today, as it has also not been updated since the same date and incorrectly shows that it is carrying a balance, which it is not. The account itself had become a charge-off and was eventually picked up by everyone's favorite JDB, LVNV Funding LLC. From the dates provided to me, LVNV Funding LLC did not pick up the account before it defaulted, so they have an illegitimate claim on being the factoring company, as that would have required for them to pick up an active account receivables from Citi. I show that the major delinquency date is reported as 04/2006 and LVNV did not show the account opened until 01/2007 - well beyond the 180 days they would have been required to acquire it in to collect on as an open account.
On to LVNV Funding LLC. I had asked TU to delete both the Citi and LVNV accounts since they both had the same account number and would logically both be subject to whatever aging requirements used by them to make the determination to put a removal date on Citi. Needless to say, LVNV was not removed and just came back as "verified". I addressed another dispute to TU again today, as well as one to EX, for LVNV. Reasons for deletion that I sited were that the account has been listed as being in a "consumer dispute" for almost four years, LVNV did not send a dunning letter or respond to requests for validation, due to the time elapsed prior to them picking up the account, they cannot legally be considered a factoring company. Likely, this is why they did not send a dunning letter, as they would have been required to identify themselves as a collection agency. They try to skirt this issue by claiming to be a "passive debt collector", which by their own definition is done by picking up valid and open debt. If I do not get a proper response from the more strongly worded disputes filed with the CRAs today, I will move on to the BBB, FTC, and SC Consumer Affairs routes. They definitely appear to not have any way to validate this debt, and I have seen people have good luck with the BBB, especially. LVNV is the absolute bottom of the barrel - them and the shells that are associated with them. I would not wish them on my worst enemy, and am so very glad to start to see states go after them.
Did two rounds of GW letters today. First was a Capital One Mastercard that I have had since 01/2001. Had one 30 day late payment in 2005. Sent them a nice and polite letter explaining the circumstances surrounding the late payment and asked that they consider removing it due to the fact that I had no late payments in the four years before or six years since. Considering how close it is to the seven year mark, I would anticipate that they might actually accommodate that one. For good measure, I sent an email version of the letter to their executive office's, Sr. VP of Home & Consumer Finance. Second round was Well Fargo Financial, had two loan products with them (small lines of credit, really) that also had an issue in late 2005 with a 30 day late, and a subsequent one in early 2006. Once again, explained the situation politely and noted the other number of Wells Fargo products I have had or currently have and faxed it to them, as well as emailing a copy to their CEO.
I am cautiously optimistic about what I set out to accomplish today. Figured I had a lot of time on my hands with the hurricane approaching tonight and me with nowhere to go. 
The one I have the highest hopes for is LVNV. The fact that they refuse to validate made me add a bit to include the method of validation (and stressing not verification) to the CRA, and that I would not be satisfied by a letter on LVNV's letterhead, an affidavit from any of LVNV's "compliance officers", or anything less than a concrete path of proof that should have been handed off by the OC. Might just be beating a drum, but it is only a foreshadowing to how I will go after those scumbags with the BBB, citing any legal precedent, law violations, and discovery items I can find. Considering the BBB gives them 14 days to respond, I am betting dollars to donuts that they will back off.
On top of all of this, anyone think I might want to contact the BBB sooner, as opposed to later? Considering the CRAs will give them 30 days, and the BBB 14 days, the extra pressure might be what I need to put them in their place.
For everyone else in the path of Irene, stay safe!
Thanks all,
jf
Forgot one more bit of activity today. See? Said it was a busy day...
I was on three of my wife's CCs as an AU. The utilization on them are too high and they were reporting. We aren't sure if we are going to pay them down, as our debt to income ratios are fine, but I went ahead and had her remove me from them (at 88%, 81%, and 71%), which should give me a little boost, at least. I still have good CCs on my record, two Capital One cards at eight and ten years old, two Amex cards, and a line of credit. Plus, there are a few positive CCs that have been closed as paid and on time / never late.
I have been down this road of credit repair / rebuilding before. Think my next New Year's resolution is going to involve constantly monitoring and maintaining my credit history and not just waiting until we are ready to finance a major purchase. Adds to much stress to an already stressful situation.
jf
Hi! I know this thread is outdated, but just wondering if you ever got Wells Fargo to remove your late payment? Just sent GW letter to WF Home Mortgage hoping to remove one 30-day late pymt from my account. It's the only late payment showing up on mine & hubby's CRs and we are looking to refi 2 mortgages soon. Our late pymt was over 3 years ago, no lates since then or the 5 years prior. Hoping they'll grant our request to remove it.
Thanks for the follow-up! We are looking to refi 2 mortgages in the near future, but more immediately are looking at switching our homeowner's insurance. We currently have Farmers and found out through local agent that our rates have increased over the last few years due to credit scores. I never would have thought our FICOs could impact current accounts with increases like that, but alas... it affects EVERYTHING!!! So, before switching HO insurance over to USAA (as we already did with auto and saved a ton, even got our 18-year-old on her own policy for same amount we were paying to have her on our Frmers auto policy - now hubby and I save $$$ on our policy and she learns more responsibility by having her own!) we wanted to clean up our CRs to get the best possible rate. 
I'll post a follow-up if/when we hear back from WFHM.
Thanks for your help!